(Volume 2, Issue 1, 2014) Legumes:An Overview
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Vol 2 (1), June 2014; 34-38 ISSN 2311-4673 Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 1, 2014) Legumes:An Overview Salman Ahmed, Muhammad Mohtasheemul Hasan* Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270 ABSTRACT Legumes are the richest source of protein, starch, minerals, vitamins and are considered as the earliest domestic plants. Legumes belong to leguminosae family, which is one of the largest and most important families of flowering plants. The present review describes the history,consumption, nutritional aspects, traditional medicinal uses pharmacology and commercial aspects of legumes. Keywords: Legumes, Nutrition, Medicine, Commerce. INTRODUCTION agricultural and agroforestry. The commonly used legumes include alfalfa, chick peas, clovers, cow Leguminosae is one of the largest and most important peas, kidney, lentils, mung beans, peanuts, peas, family of flowering plants constituting 650 to 750 pigeon peas, soy beans, and vetches [1,2]. genera, 18,000 to 19,000 species of herbs, climbers, shrubs and trees. This family broadly defined by the History of legume consumption podded fruits (legumes). It is divided into four sub Legumes are believed as the earliest human- families as caesalpinoideae (2,800 species), domesticated plants. Lentils were also the component mimosoideae (2,900), papilionoideae (14,000) and of the cropping systems of ancient Egypt and faba swartzioideae (80). Legumes are useful as human beans are mentioned in Bible. Carbonised seeds of and animal food and soil-improving components of pea, lentils and vetches have bean found in fire places of Neolithic age (7000 to 8000 years B. C.) in Turkey. In Switzerland, the lake dwellers who lived between 4000 and 5000 B. C. cultivated peas (Pisumspecies) and a dwarf field bean. In China, farmers began cultivating soy bean between 2000 and 3000 B. C. Beans, soy bean and staple crops were domesticated in America and Asia respectively more than 3,000 years ago. Romans used legumes in pastures and for soil improvement dating 37 B. C [2,3]. Nutritional aspects of legumes Legumes are the richest source of nutrients (protein, *Corresponding author: [email protected] 34 Vol 2 (1), June 2014; 34-38 starch, minerals and vitamins) and important health Leguminous plants used as food [2] protective compounds (phenolics, inositol phosphates Arachishypogaea (peanut, groundnut) and oligo-saccharides). Legume proteins are Cajanuscajan (pigeon pea) composed of several thousand specific proteins. Canavaliaensiformis (jack bean) About 70 to 80% of the crude protein in legumes Ceratoniasiliqua (carob, locust) seeds is storage protein. Legume seeds accumulate Cicerarietinum(chickpea, gram, garbanzo) large amount of proteins during their development. Glycine max (soybean) The main protein fractions are albumin and globulin. Lens culinaris (lentil, masur dhal) The albumin fraction has a well-balance amino acid Pachyrhizuserosus (Yam bean) profiles and is relatively rich in sulfur containing Parkiajavanica (Petal) amino acid (methionine and cysteine), where as, the Phaseoluscoccineus (scarlet runner bean) globulin fraction differ in their amino acid Phaseoluslunatus (lima bean, butter bean) composition, molecular weight of protein sub units Phaseolus vulgaris (bean, common bean) and physico-chemical properties. Proteins are present Pisumsativum (common or garden pea) in pea and beans upto 20% andupto 40 % in soybean Psophocarpustetragonolobus (winged bean) and lupin. The protein is rich in lysine, and is therefore Viciafaba (broadbean, faba bean) complementary to cereals in lysine balance [3,4]. Vignamungo (urdbean, black gram) Vignaradiata (gram, mungbean) Legumes contain 390 – 510 g/kg starch content as Vignasubterranea (bambara groundnut) an important energy source. This legume starch is Vignaumbellata (rice bean) characterized by high amylopectin content. The oil Vignaunguiculata (kacang, cowpea) content of legumes (except soy and lupin) is about 1 – 2% which is mainly composed of poly un- Legumes as animal feed saturated fatty acids. The great nutritional value of Legumes are also used as animal fodder in which legume seeds not only allow them to use as meat soy beans are most commonly used. Forage legumes replacers but also provide component of rational which are generally used are grass-legumes mixtures, nourishment and food for vegetarians. The isolated the clovers, medics, trefoils and vetches are important proteins, starch and fibers from legume seeds have in temperate regions. Stylosanthes, Pueraria, Lablab, good physico-chemical and health protecting Desmodium and other tropical pasture crops are properties [3]. important in tropical and sub tropical regions as live stock fodder [2]. Legumes as human food Legume seeds (pulses or grain legumes) are the Leguminous plants used as fodder [2] major source of human food second only to cereals Acacia albida (Poaceae). Nutritionally these are more rich in protein Acacia farnesiana content than cereal grains. When legumes and cereals Acacia koa are eaten together, they provide complete protein Acacia lutea requirement. In Latin America kidney beans are a Acacia nilotica major source of food, where as lentils, pigeon peas Acacia seyal and chick peas are important in South Asia. Similarly Albiziaamara faba beans, lentils and chick peas are important Albizialebbek protein food in Middle East and North Africa. Archidendronjiringa Common food products made from legumes include Archidendropsisbasaltica peanut butter and soymilk [2]. Astragaluscicer Bauhinia spp. 35 Vol 2 (1), June 2014; 34-38 Cyamopsistetragonoloba Dalbergiasissoo Pithecellobiumdulce Desmodiumspp. Prosopisspp. Erythrina spp. Puerariaphaseoloides Lotus spp. Stylosanthes spp. Lupinus spp. Trifolium spp. Macroptilium spp. Macrotylomauniflorum Economic / commercial importance of legumes Medicago spp. Legumes are not only used as human food and animal Melilotus spp. feed but also consume as green manures for crops Table 1: Economic and commercial Leguminous plants [2] Plants Main Uses Acacia albida Shade Acacia auriculiformis Shade, ornamental, fuel Acacia farnesiana Perfume, tannin, wood Acacia glauca Green manure Acacia koa Lumber Acacia mangium Lumber, fuelwood Acacia mearnsii Fuelwood, lumber, tannin Acacia pennatula Shade coffee, fuel Acacia senegal Gum Arabic Acacia seyal Lumber Albizia falcataria Shade Albizzia Lebbek Shade Albizia sumatrana Shade, green manure Astragalus cicer Erosion control Bauhinia spp. Ornamental Callian dra calothyrsus Fuel, green manure, land reclamation Calopogonium mucunoides Erosion control, soil improvement Cassia alata Medicine, tannin Cassia senna Cosmetic Crotalaria juncea Fiber, green manure Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Gum, green manure, cover crop Dalbergia sissoo Lumber Erythrina spp Shade, green manure, ormamental Gliricidia sepium Shade, green manure Inga edulis Shade for coffee Leucaenaleuco cephala Green manure, land reclamation, paper pulp Lupinus spp Green manure, soil improvement Pithcellobium dulce Shade Prosopis spp Shade, lumber Pueraria phaseoloides Erosion control Senna occidentalis Medicine 36 Vol 2 (1), June 2014; 34-38 such as Sesbaniarostrata in rice cropping and Pharmacological activity of legumes Gliridiasepium, Leucaenaleucephala in alley Proteins present in legumes are the source of cropping. Legumes also used as forges like constructive and energetic compounds. They also Lupinum(lupin), Medicago (alfaalfa) and Trifolium play a bio-active role as the precursor of biologically (clover). They can be milled into flour, used to make active peptides with various physiological and bread, doughnuts, tortillas, chips, spreads and pharmacological functions for example lasein-derived extruded snacks or used in liquid form to produce peptides, which possess immuno-modulating, anti- milk, yogurt and infant formula. Popbeans, licorice hypertensive and anti-thrombotic activities. and soybean candy provide novel uses for specific Isoflavones from soy beans and other legumes are reported to decrease the serum cholesterol level and legumes. Legumes have been industrially use to the risk of cancer. Soybean and soyfood prepare biodegradable plastic, oil, gums, dyes and phytoestrogens are suggested as possible alternative inks [2,3]. to hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women. Rotenone from various Lonchocarpus and Legumes in traditional system of medicine Derris species is one of the example of insecticide Many legumes have been used in folk medicine in and molluscicide drug [1]. different parts of the world. Abuki bean is reported as lactagogue and diuretic. It tonifies the kidney- The high fiber content, low glycaemic index and the adrenal functions and detoxify the body. It is very presence of minor components such as of legumes effective in leucorrhoea, jaundice, ascites, mumps, phytosterols, saponins, oligosaccharides etc., are boils and diarrhoea. Black bean acts as analgesic considered the main responsible agents in controlling specially in lower backache and knee pain. It is lipid and consequently decrease the risk of reported as tonic, haemitenic and diuretic. Mung cardiovascular diseases. Similarly the low glycaemic bean is useful in diarrhoea, dysentery, conjunctivitis, index and the high content of undigestible fibers of oedema of lower extremeties, high blood pressure, dry legumes are claimed to help glycaemic control intestinal ulcers, painful urination, burns, mumps in diabetics. Legumes are assumed to play an and poisoning from food, lead and